Embodied cognitive flexibility and neuroplasticity following Quadrato Motor Training.
Tal D Ben-Soussan, Aviva Berkovich-Ohana, Claudia Piervincenzi, Joseph Glicksohn, Filippo Carducci
Frontiers in Psychology 2015 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01021 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial with two control groups; pilot longitudinal structural MRI and DTI Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 27 |
| Population | Participants randomly assigned to Quadrato Motor Training, Verbal Training, or Simple Motor Training |
| Interventions | Quadrato Motor Training Verbal Training Simple Motor Training |
| Duration | 4-week intervention |
| Topics | Neuroplasticity |
| Keywords | MRI Quadrato motor training Cerebellum Creativity Embodiment |
| Citations | 48 |
| Key findings | Four weeks of daily QMT significantly increased cognitive flexibility and ideational fluency, and anatomical brain changes correlated with cognitive flexibility scores. |
Abstract
Quadrato Motor Training (QMT) is a whole-body movement contemplative practice aimed at increasing health and well-being. Previous research studying the effect of one QMT session suggested that one of its means for promoting health is by enhancing cognitive flexibility, an important dimension of creativity. Yet, little is known about the effect of a longer QMT practice on creativity, or the relative contribution of the cognitive and motor aspects of the training. Here, we continue this line of research in two inter-related studies, examining the effects of prolonged QMT. In the first, we investigated the effect of 4-weeks of daily QMT on creativity using the Alternate Uses (AUs) Task. In order to determine whether changes in creativity were driven by the cognitive or the motor aspects of the training, we used two control groups: Verbal Training (VT, identical cognitive training with verbal response) and Simple Motor Training (SMT, similar motor training with reduced choice requirements). Twenty-seven participants were randomly assigned to one of the groups. Following training, cognitive flexibility significantly increased in the QMT group, which was not the case for either the SMT or VT groups. In contrast to one QMT session, ideational fluency was also significantly increased. In the second study, we conducted a pilot longitudinal structural magnetic resonance imaging and diffusion tensor imaging (4-weeks QMT). We report gray matter volume and fractional anisotropy changes, in several regions, including the cerebellum, previously related to interoceptive accuracy. The anatomical changes were positively correlated with cognitive flexibility scores. Albeit the small sample size and preliminary nature of the findings, these results provide support for the hypothesized creativity-motor connection. The results are compared to other contemplative studies, and discussed in light of theoretical models integrating cognitive flexibility, embodiment and the motor system.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on neuroplasticity, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Increased global integration in the brain after psilocybin therapy for depression. Patients with treatment-resistant depression and patients with major depressive disorder | 2022 | Open-label trial and double-blind phase II randomized controlled trial | |
| Cognitive-Affective Neural Plasticity following Active-Controlled Mindfulness Intervention Healthy human subjects | 2012 | Randomized controlled trial | |
| LSD-induced entropic brain activity predicts subsequent personality change. Healthy adults | 2016 | Balanced-order, placebo-controlled study | n = 19 |
| Effective connectivity changes in LSD-induced altered states of consciousness in humans. Healthy participants | 2019 | Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over study | n = 25 |
| Dynamical exploration of the repertoire of brain networks at rest is modulated by psilocybin. | 2019 | Observational study with placebo session |
Citations in the library
Cited by 9
- White Matter Microstructural Changes Following Quadrato Motor Training: A Longitudinal Study Frontiers in Human Neuroscience December 7, 2017
- Dynamics of the Sphere Model of Consciousness: Silence, Space, and Self. Frontiers in Psychology 2020
- Assessing brain neuroplasticity: Surface morphometric analysis of cortical changes induced by Quadrato motor training. Journal of anatomy May 1, 2025
- A Three-Fold Integrated Perspective on Healthy Development: An Opinion Paper. Brain Sciences May 25, 2023
- Quadrato Motor Training (QMT) is associated with DNA methylation changes at DNA repeats: A pilot study. PLoS One 2023
and 4 more in the library
Cites 8
- Focused attention, open monitoring and loving kindness meditation: effects on attention, conflict monitoring, and creativity – A review Frontiers in Psychology September 23, 2014
- “Mind the Trap”: Mindfulness Practice Reduces Cognitive Rigidity PLoS One May 15, 2012
- A suspended act: increased reflectivity and gender-dependent electrophysiological change following Quadrato Motor Training. Frontiers in Psychology 2014
- Mindfulness practice leads to increases in regional brain gray matter density Psychiatry Research November 10, 2010
- Meditation, mindfulness and cognitive flexibility. Consciousness and Cognition March 2009
and 3 more in the library